Liam makes its first appearance in the Grand Rapids hospital's annual top 10 boys names list this year, taking the top spot. Just last year, Liam was ranked 19th in top names for boys.
Emma continues to be a favorite name for girls. In fact, Emma has been a top 10 girls name for the past five years — ranking No. 1 in 2009, 2010 and now again in 2012.
Parents take great pride in finding names with meaning. So, who is Liam? According to babycenter.com, Liam’s origin is Irish, meaning “unwavering protector.”
The name Emma is of German origin and means “universal.”
“Forty-three boys were named Liam this past fiscal year,” said Jason Gilliken, measurement and evaluation specialist at Spectrum Health. “Clearly, the name, and perhaps its meaning, has resonated with more parents than ever before.”
More babies are born in the Family Birth Place at Butterworth Hospital than any other hospital in Michigan, with 7,161 births in fiscal year 2012.
Butterworth's top 10 names for boys in 2012:
Liam
Noah
Jacob
Gabriel
Jackson
Landon
Isaac
Benjamin
Owen
William
Top 10 names for girls:
Emma
Sophia
Ava
Olivia
Evelyn
Grace
Isabella
Emily
Abigail
Addison
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